Back in 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt passed a law that allowed people to brew and sell their own beer, so long as it remained under 4 percent alcohol by volume. At the time, it had been 13 years since Americans could buy beer, thanks to Prohibition. Fast forward to today and beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the U.S. — and many brews are well beyond that 4 percent ABV mark.
Last year, the U.S. beer industry sold over 207.4 million barrels of beer. That’s a whole lot of brew, especially when you consider that more and more people are brewing their own beer at home! From sours, saisons and ales to malts, stouts and porters, the beer industry has grown to encompass a huge variety of beer types, and everyone has a favorite. With the help of Google Trends, Food & Wine identified a list of the most popular beers in each state.
The most popular brand overall? The slightly-sweet Belgian white ale Blue Moon, which is the favorite of 13 states, followed by Yuengling, the favorite in five states. While some states stay loyal to their locally-made brew, others prefer types over brands. Interestingly enough, Utah’s favorite beer is of the non-alcoholic variety: root beer.
Keep reading to get the full list and get some new product recommendations for the next time that beer craving hits.
Alabama: Blue Moon
Originally called Bellyside Belgian White, Blue Moon is a Belgian-style witbier most often enjoyed with an orange slice to enhance the Valencia Orange peel flavor within the brew.
As The Iron Horse Brewery’s flagship beer, Quilter’s Irish Death is a crowd-pleaser characterized by its chocolate-y, caramel flavors. According to the brewery, they refer to it as beer candy.
Up until two years ago, 805 Blonde Ale was sold only in California, which makes sense as it was “created for the laid-back California lifestyle.” But due to its huge popularity, it now ships to Nevada, Texas and, of course, Arizona, who can’t get enough of it.
Best Rainier Beer story? In 2004, a bear drank 36 cans of this brew after having found a cooler full of beer in Baker Lake, Washington. As the story goes, the bear drank all the Rainier, while leaving the Busch beer untouched.
805 Beer is brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Company, the fourth-largest craft brewery in California. This light blonde ale prides itself on embodying the California lifestyle: the coast, outdoors and chilling out with friends and good beer.
This beer is brewed locally in Dewey Beach, Delaware at the Dewey Beer Co., a brewery where you can order a beer that was brewed less than 30 feet away from where you’re drinking it.
If you’re a beer lover in Washington, D.C., chances are Dacha Beer Garden is where you drink your brew. From German, Belgian and American craft beers to local meads and ciders, Dacha has all your beer drinking needs covered.
Brewed by Tampa Bay, Florida’s Cigar City Brewing, this India Pale Ale is named in honor of Jai Alai, a game that’s played in the Basque region of Spain.
Blue Moon started out in downtown Denver, specifically at the start of baseball season in 1995. Since they were located in the Coors Field baseball stadium, they were called The Sandlot Brewery.
Think gluten-free beer skimps on flavor? Think again. It’s Idaho’s favorite type of beer! In fact, the gluten-free beer market is primed to grow in 2018 due to an increase in demand among gluten-intolerant beer drinkers.
Founded in 2009, the Louisiana-based Bayou Teche Brewery’s goal is to create craft beers that “complement the cuisine and lifestyle of Cajuns and Creoles.” No wonder it’s a state favorite!
Situated in Frederick, Maryland, Attaboy is an independent brewery that boasts a creative selection of beers on tap ranging from IPAs to Belgians and seasonal beers.
Launched in 2004, Cape Cod Beer boasts a huge selection of beers ranging from their cask and barrel series to seasonal brews and even a collection of coffee-inspired brews.
Fun fact: The name for the Blue Moon Brewing Company was born after an admin exclaimed: “You know, a beer that tastes this good comes around only once in a blue moon.”
Launched in 1986, Yuengling’s Black & Tan beer was one of the first hand-crafted blends to combine a dark and light beer. In the case of this bottling, it’s 60 percent dark brewed porter and 40 percent premium beer.
Schilling is a family-run brewery located in Littleton, New Hampshire, that produces artisanal European-inspired beers. Their beers range from Belgian-, Russo- and Scandinavian-inspired ales to Czech- and German-inspired lagers and more.
In the world of India Pale Ales, double and imperial IPAs possess a higher hop concentration, which necessitates the brewer use more malt, resulting in a higher ABV (alcohol by volume).
With so many beer options available in the Big Apple and throughout the state, New Yorkers can’t agree on just one style of brew. But they do have a watering hole of choice: Randolph Beer, which has several outposts around the city.
Hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, Burial Beer Co. started in 2013. Its name is a nod to the process of reaching the afterlife and celebrating what has “passed, the things that still are, and the things that will be again.”
This Wisconsin farmhouse ale is brewed by New Glarus Brewing Company and can only be found in Wisconsin. It’s so popular that over 12 million pints are consumed annually—clearly a good portion of those by North Dakotans.
In 2016, Blue Moon went through a subtle packaging redesign, updating the logo font to be more simplistic and replacing the frosty evergreen imagery with a depiction of the brand’s iconic serving presentation: a distinct pilsner glass with an orange slice garnish.
The iconic Mexican beer brand founded by Antonino Fernandez is best known for its accompanying lime wedge, but Fernandez himself is remembered primarily by a false rumor that surrounded his death. Upon his passing in 2016, it was falsely reported by numerous media outlets that he had willed millions of dollars to each of the villagers in his hometown. To their dismay, the reports were untrue.
Blue Moon offers some inventive limited releases, which have included first peach ale, gingerbread spiced ale, harvest pumpkin wheat and Valencia Grove Amber.
The success of MillerCoors’ Blue Moon prompted Anheuser-Busch to release a similar competing beer in 2006. Like Blue Moon, Shock Top is brewed with orange peel and coriander, yielding a citrus-forward flavor profile.
Founded in 1884, Lone Star Beer — also referred to as “the national beer of Texas” — has seen multiple owners over the years. The name is now owned by the Pabst Brewing Co., though production is contracted out to other breweries.
Utahns love their root beer. Though the state has no official beverage, root beer is a favorite in part because of its popularity with church members who don’t drink alcohol. Logan is the state’s only root beer brewpub.
According to brand, the signature glass that Blue Moon is usually poured into is done so to “highlight the depth of the beer.” The glass opens wide to make space for the aromatic citrus notes.
2017 was a big year for the iconic beer brand Hamms. According to Nielsen, the brand finished the year up 74.6 percent on an 87.3 percent jump in volume.
